This paper is a chronologically-organized narrative history of law-related education (LRE) in the United States. The paper begins by delineating the differences between LRE and citizenship education and describing the motivations for the creation of LRE programs in the early 1960s. Turning to the analysis of LRE, the paper argues that there have been thee evolutionary time periods in the development of LRE. The three periods are 1962-68, 1968-78, and 1978 to the present. The three periods are distinguished by material content, instructional approaches, and patterns in funding. During the period 1962-68 the focus of LRE was the Bill of Rights. Current case studies were implemented as the primary instructional technique, an innovation from traditional textbook based education. During the second period, the emphasis in LRE shifted somewhat away from the Bill of Rights toward students' understanding the responsibilities of a citizen and knowledge of law in everyday life. Major content areas included conceptual law, street law, and community action. Funding for LRE during the second period came mostly from the federal government and legal organizations. Since 1978, the third period delineated, LRE has emphasized delinquency prevention, citizenship, and local community involvement. Teaching methods for LRE have shifted from a disciplines and electives approach to an infusion model. Contains 66 references. (LH)